Supervision in clinical midwifery practice

In 1987, a community midwife practising in the Isle of Wight aroused considerable interest in the professional press when she contested the right of her midwifery manager and supervisor of midwives to direct her clinical practice.

Abstract

In 1987, a community midwife practising in the Isle of Wight aroused considerable interest in the professional press (Flint, 1987; Hughes and Parker, 1987; Nursing Times, 1987), when she contested the right of her midwifery manager and supervisor of midwives to direct her clinical practice. Her supervisor of midwives had issued a memorandum directing all midwives who conducted hospital deliveries to administer syntometrine for the third stage of labour (unless the mother gave specific instructions to the contrary). The directive had been originated by a consultant obstetrician.